Latch.



P. J. WBSOLOWSKI.

, LATCH.

APPLICATION TILED MAB. 8, 1913.

, 1,084,63L Patnted Jan.20,1914.

, hm w a Paar JWeao/ows/ap WKJ d 1 r V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER :r. WESOLOWSKI, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 8, 1913.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

Serial No. 752,870.

The invention relates to latches, and is more particularly designed for use in connection with automobile doors and in other places where the space available is limited.

It is the object of the invention, first to condense the mechanism into a small case; further, to obtain a durable construction; and further, to obtain a construction which may be cheaply manufactured.

With these objects in view the invention consists in various features of construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the latch with the cover plate thereof detached. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the cover plate is stamped; and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the latch complete.

The body of the latch case is preferably formed of an angle plate A, which may be struck up from sheet metal. The flange B of this member is apertured at C for the passage of the latch bolt D, the shank E of which is cut away so as to form a comparatively thin section adjacent to the plate A.

F is a lever for withdrawing the latch, which is pivotally attached at G to the plate A and extends transversely across the shank E of the bolt D, being cut away or reduced in thickness for the passage of said shank.

H is a coil spring secured to a bifurcated stud I, which projects from the plate A and is secured thereto in any suitable way-such as by riveting, spot welding, etc. A number of convolutions of this coil pass around the stud I, and a free end H extends against a laterally-projecting lug portion J on the shank E, which is provided with a rounded nose J for engaging the lever F.

K is a cover plate struck up from a sheet metal blank, which is out to form a portion L parallel to the plate A. At one end of this portion L is an extension L which is bent at right angles and provided with a projecting tongue L for engaging an aperture M in the plate A. The opposite end of the portion L has a centrally-projecting tongue portion N with laterally-extending portions 0 and O separated from the portion L by the slots P and P. This blank when struck up (as shown in Fig. 1) forms a housing for the head of the latch bolt D, having a top 0 studs 0 and O with laterally-projecting foot flanges Q, and Q, while the portion N forms an end for this housing and the connection betweenthe same and the portion L. The cover is secured to the plate A by lugs or tongues R and R struck up from the latter, and which are bent over the foot flanges Q, and Q, while the tongue L extends into engagement with the aperture M and is riveted over on the rear side of the plate A. The portion L is also provided with a slot S extending parallel to the latch bolt D and forming a guide for a projecting lug T on the latter.

WVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. A latch, comprising an angle plate, a latch bolt and operating mechanism therefor mounted on the body of said plate, the bolt passing through an aperture in the flange thereof, and a cover plate for the mechanism struck up from sheet metal, having a portion arranged parallel to the body portion of said angle plate and a portion bent to house said bolt provided with foot flanges and struck up lugs on said angle plate for engaging and securing said foot flanges.

2. A latch, comprising an angle plate, a latch bolt and operating mechanism therefor mounted on the body portion of said angle plate, said bolt passing through an aperture in the flange of said plate and having a shank of reduced thickness, a cover plate for the mechanism on said angle plate struck up from sheet metal, having a portion parallel to the body portion of said angle plate and covering the reduced shank of said bolt and the actuating mechanism therefor, said cover plate being also provided with a struck up portion for embracing and housing the thick portion of the latch bolt when in retracted position, and struck out lugs or ears for holding said angle plate and cove-r plate together.

3. A latch, comprising an angle plate, a latch bolt and operating mechanism mounted upon said plate, said bolt extending through an aperture in the flange of said plate and having a shank reduced in thickness lying parallel to the body portion of said plate, and a cover plate struck up from sheet metal having a portion lying parallel to the body portion of said angle plate to house the mechanism adjacent thereto, a portion bent upward and outward to form a housing for the thick portion of the bolt in retracted position and having down-bent side portions adjacent to said bolt with foot flanges resting upon the body portion of said angle plate, an angle bent flange at the opposite end of said cover plate bearing against the body portion of said angle plate, and struck up lugs or ears for securing said angle plate and cover plate to each other.

4. A latch, comprising an'angle plate, a latch bolt extending through an aperture in the flange of said plate and having a shank portion of reduced thickness lying adjacent to the body portion of said plate, a lever for retracting said bolt pivotally attached to the body portion of said plate and extending transversely across said shank, being mortised to provide clearance for said shank, an outwardly-projecting lug at the rear end of said shank forming a bearing shoulder for said lever, a coil spring mounted on the body portion of said plate in rear of said lever and shank and yieldably bearing against the latter, a cover plate having a portion lying parallel to the body portion of said angle plate and housing said lever, spring and reduced portion of said shank, said cover plate having a portion struck outward to form a housing for the thick portion of the bolt in retracted position and provided with depending side flanges terminating in foot flanges, an angle flange on the opposite end of said cover plate bearing against the body portion of said angle plate, struck out lugs or ears for securing said cover plate to said angle plate, and a bearing projecting outward from said lug on said shank engaging a longitudinal slot in said cover plate and forming a guide for said bolt.

5. A latch, comprising an angle plate, a latch bolt and operating mechanism mounted on said plate, a cover plate for said bolt and mechanism struck out from a sheet metal blank having a rectangular portion lyingparallel to the body portion of said angle plate, a portion projecting centrally from one end of said rectangular portion bent upward and outward, laterallyprojecting portions on opposite sides of said outwardlybent portion, bent downward in parallelism and provided with laterally-bent foot flanges, and an angle flange bent downward from the opposite end of said rectangular portion.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER J. WESOLOWSKI. Witnesses:

JAMES P. BARRY, W. K. FORD.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

